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Barack Obama stands during a welcome ceremony by national guard, upon his arrival at Qubba palace in Cairo, Egypt.
AP Photo

Part of this conviction is rooted in my own experience. I am a Christian, but my father came from a Kenyan family that includes generations of Muslims. As a boy, I spent several years in Indonesia and heard the call of the azaan at the break of dawn and the fall of dusk. As a young man, I worked in Chicago communities where many found dignity and peace in their Muslim faith.

As a student of history, I also know civilization’s debt to Islam. It was Islam – at places like Al-Azhar University – that carried the light of learning through so many centuries, paving the way for Europe’s Renaissance and Enlightenment. It was innovation in Muslim communities that developed the order of algebra; our magnetic compass and tools of navigation; our mastery of pens and printing; our understanding of how disease spreads and how it can be healed. Islamic culture has given us majestic arches and soaring spires; timeless poetry and cherished music; elegant calligraphy and places of peaceful contemplation. And throughout history, Islam has demonstrated through words and deeds the possibilities of religious tolerance and racial equality.

I know, too, that Islam has always been a part of America’s story. The first nation to recognize my country was Morocco. In signing the Treaty of Tripoli in 1796, our second President John Adams wrote, "The United States has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Muslims." And since our founding, American Muslims have enriched the United States. They have fought in our wars, served in government, stood for civil rights, started businesses, taught at our Universities, excelled in our sports arenas, won Nobel Prizes, built our tallest building, and lit the Olympic Torch. And when the first Muslim-American was recently elected to Congress, he took the oath to defend our Constitution using the same Holy Koran that one of our Founding Fathers – Thomas Jefferson – kept in his personal library.

So I have known Islam on three continents before coming to the region where it was first revealed. That experience guides my conviction that partnership between America and Islam must be based on what Islam is, not what it isn’t. And I consider it part of my responsibility as President of the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear.

But that same principle must apply to Muslim perceptions of America. Just as Muslims do not fit a crude stereotype, America is not the crude stereotype of a self-interested empire. The United States has been one of the greatest sources of progress that the world has ever known. We were born out of revolution against an empire. We were founded upon the ideal that all are created equal, and we have shed blood and struggled for centuries to give meaning to those words – within our borders, and around the world. We are shaped by every culture, drawn from every end of the Earth, and dedicated to a simple concept: E pluribus unum: "Out of many, one."

Much has been made of the fact that an African-American with the name Barack Hussein Obama could be elected President. But my personal story is not so unique. The dream of opportunity for all people has not come true for everyone in America, but its promise exists for all who come to our shores – that includes nearly seven million American Muslims in our country today who enjoy incomes and education that are higher than average.

Moreover, freedom in America is indivisible from the freedom to practice one’s religion. That is why there is a mosque in every state of our union, and over 1,200 mosques within our borders. That is why the U.S. government has gone to court to protect the right of women and girls to wear the hijab, and to punish those who would deny it.

So let there be no doubt: Islam is a part of America. And I believe that America holds within her the truth that regardless of race, religion, or station in life, all of us share common aspirations – to live in peace and security; to get an education and to work with dignity; to love our families, our communities, and our God. These things we share. This is the hope of all humanity.

Of course, recognizing our common humanity is only the beginning of our task. Words alone cannot meet the needs of our people. These needs will be met only if we act boldly in the years ahead; and if we understand that the challenges we face are shared, and our failure to meet them will hurt us all.

For we have learned from recent experience that when a financial system weakens in one country, prosperity is hurt everywhere. When a new flu infects one human being, all are at risk. When one nation pursues a nuclear weapon, the risk of nuclear attack rises for all nations. When violent extremists operate in one stretch of mountains, people are endangered across an ocean. And when innocents in Bosnia and Darfur are slaughtered, that is a stain on our collective conscience. That is what it means to share this world in the 21st century. That is the responsibility we have to one another as human beings.

This is a difficult responsibility to embrace. For human history has often been a record of nations and tribes subjugating one another to serve their own interests. Yet in this new age, such attitudes are self-defeating. Given our interdependence, any world order that elevates one nation or group of people over another will inevitably fail. So whatever we think of the past, we must not be prisoners of it. Our problems must be dealt with through partnership; progress must be shared.

That does not mean we should ignore sources of tension. Indeed, it suggests the opposite: we must face these tensions squarely. And so in that spirit, let me speak as clearly and plainly as I can about some specific issues that I believe we must finally confront together.

Readers' Comments (23)

it is also undeniable that the Palestinian people – Muslims and Christians – have suffered in pursuit of a homeland. For more than sixty years they have endured the pain of dislocation. Many wait in refugee camps in the West Bank, Gaza, and neighboring lands for a life of peace and security that they have never been able to lead. They endure the daily humiliations – large and small – that come with occupation. So let there be no doubt: the situation for the Palestinian people is intolerable. America will not turn our backs on the legitimate Palestinian aspiration for dignity, opportunity, and a state of their own.

A glance at the map of Palestine will tell us why we have been targeted by terrorists ever since Israel occupied all of Palestine in violation of UN Security Council resolutions and international law. Our support of Israel's occupations and persecutions of the Palestinians has caused widespread anti-American hatred in the Arab/Muslim world.

For instance, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, mastermind of 9/11, said his hatred for America is due to our foreign policy bias towards Israel. (See The 9/11 Commission Report, page 147.)

Furthermore, in a May 1998 interview, shown in the PBS Fronttline documentary "Hunting bin Laden," Osama bin Laden said, "For over half a century, Muslims in Palestine have been slaughtered and assaulted and robbed of their honor and of their property. Their houses have been blasted, their crops destroyed." "The leaders in America and in other countries have fallen victim to Jewish Zionist blackmail. They have mobilized their people against Islam and against Muslims." "Your position against Muslims in Palestine is despicable and disgraceful." "The American government is leading the country towards hell.....We say to the Americans as people and to American mothers, if they cherish their lives and if they cherish their sons, they must elect an American patriotic government that caters to their interests and not the interests of the Jews."

Palestine since ancient times has been defined as the land between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River. It has been occupied by many peoples including the Jews who took it in bloody genocidal conquests (well described in the Old Testament) from the Canaanites who had been living there before the Jews came. After the Jews, there were other occupiers. After Britain gave up its Palestine mandate, the UN divided Palestine roughly equally in 1947 so as to create an Arab state and a Jewish state. (See map#2) At that time Jews only owned 5.8% of the land in Palestine. As well-documented village-by-village in renowned Israeli historian Ilan Pappe's book The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine, the Jews forced the Arabs, who had lived there 1300 years, to leave by means of terrorism and mass murder. By 1967 Israel had 78% of the land. (Map#3) Now Israel occupies all of Palestine in violation of UN Security Council resolutions and international law. 57 countries do not recognize Israel for this reason.

The Arab Peace Plan calls for Israel to go back to the 1967 border giving Israel 78% of the land in return for peace and recognition. Arafat agreed to this plan in 2002. Agreeing to giving Israel 78% is generous on the part of the Arabs but greedy Israel wants more, and that's why America is being destroyed fighting these never-ending wars on behalf of Israel's illegal occupation as well as being exposed to terrorist attacks like 9/11.

You're forgetting religious genocide against them. In 1917 British Foreign Secretary Arthur J. Balfour declared that Britain supported the establishment of a national home for the Jews in Palestine. At that time there were 56,000 Jews and 600,000 Arabs living in Palestine. (See Avi Shlaim's book The Iron Wall page 7). The Balfour Declaration emphad, "it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine." However Zionist leader David Ben-Gurion had other ideas. By 1947 Jews only owned 5.8% of the land in Palestine. Greedy for more, Ben-Gurion established an ethnic cleansing cabal, known as the Consultancy, which devised a "Plan Dalet" in March 1948 to systematically eliminate the Palestinian Arabs through terrorism, mass murder, and expulsion. (See Ilan Pappe's book The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine.)They were highly successful, killing thousands and creating 800,000 Arab refugees in the first six months alone.

The recent Israeli slaughter of thousands in Lebanon and Gaza is simply a continuation of this genocide. Indeed 80% of Gaza's 1.5 million residents are Palestinian refugees whose families were forced from their homes or fled due to Jewish terror in 1948. (See "Israel Is Committing War Crimes" by Professor George Bisharat Wall Street Journal 1/10-11/09.)

This religious genocide traces back to Biblical times. According to the Old Testament, the ancient Jews believed their God wanted them to commit mass murder in order to steal land. For instance, regarding the Jews' conquest of Jericho, (Joshua 6:21) "And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox,and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword."

Similarly, the Lord tells Saul "Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.' (Samuel I 15:3)

And David sings to the daughter of Babylon "Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones." (Psalms 137:9) Certainly in Gaza we recently saw lots of dead little ones in addition to all others including animals.

It turns out the rabbis played a major role in encouraging this slaughter. As reported in The New York Times 3/22/09, the military's chief rabbi Brig. Gen. Avichai Rontzki, a West Bank settler, told the soldiers not to show mercy to the civilians, preaching that "humanistic' values should be subordinated to the law of the Torah. Gaza was portrayed as a re-enactment of Biblical conquest, slaying non-Jews without mercy at the behest of God. This is religious genocide.

Islam has a proud tradition of tolerance. We see it in the history of Andalusia and Cordoba during the Inquisition. I saw it firsthand as a child in Indonesia, where devout Christians worshiped freely in an overwhelmingly Muslim country. That is the spirit we need today. People in every country should be free to choose and live their faith based upon the persuasion of the mind, heart, and soul. This tolerance is essential for religion to thrive, but it is being challenged in many different ways.

Obama should try Saudi and Iran where there is no tolerance at all.

Women have no rights. Gays are stoned. Iraq under Saddam was a barrel of fun as well.

I already know what the conservatives will say about this speech. They are so used to a president who acts like Rambo and goes around dragging a club on the ground that they can't understand anyone like Obama. Conservatives also hate anyone who talks in a nuanced or historically balanced way, and are so limited that they only want to hear that America is Number One and never did anything wrong in its history.

Okay, it's easy to dismiss the primitives, since they know nothing and never will. I'm glad Obama said that the US is not just an evil empire that wants to take over the Middle East and control the oil. I don't know what good it will do, since frankly many in the Muslim world are not going to be very friendly to us no matter what we do or so--which is one good reason not to even try to do too much there--only what we absolutely have to. Keep it minimal.

Personally, I do not even care all that much about the Muslim world. I'm more interested in what's happening in America and how to get out of our current meltdown. I'm kind of sick of hearing about the Muslim world altogether.

Indeed 80% of Gaza's 1.5 million residents are Palestinian refugees whose families were forced from their homes or fled due to Jewish terror in 1948. (See "Israel Is Committing War Crimes" by Professor George Bisharat Wall Street Journal 1/10-11/09.)

I hate to be in agreement with crozier, but this is just false. Read about Andalusia and Cordoba. Pre 1492 Spain under Muslim control allowed all faiths to practice openly and freely.

It's funny you should mention the Muslim occupation of Spain. During their reign, yes they did allow those of other faiths to practice openly and were peaceful to them, but there WAS a cost: all non-Muslim citizens had limited rights - you couldn't voice your opinion against the government, you couldn't take part in government affairs, non-Muslims garnered less wages than Muslim workers, limited government support, and you still had to observe Sharia Law where it was applied. However, if you wanted to have more freedom, a better standing in society and have a say in the country's political process, the Muslims in control were more than happy to help you convert to Islam. So, they would allow you to practice your religion, but you became akin to a sub-class citizen in their Muslim-dominant society!

I hate to be in agreement with crozier, but this is just false. Read about Andalusia and Cordoba. Pre 1492 Spain under Muslim control allowed all faiths to practice openly and freely.

It's funny you should mention the Muslim occupation of Spain. During their reign, yes they did allow those of other faiths to practice openly and were peaceful to them, but there WAS a cost: all non-Muslim citizens had limited rights - you couldn't voice your opinion against the government, you couldn't take part in government affairs, non-Muslims garnered less wages than Muslim workers, limited government support, and you still had to observe Sharia Law where it was applied. However, if you wanted to have more freedom, a better standing in society and have a say in the country's political process, the Muslims in control were more than happy to help you convert to Islam. So, they would allow you to practice your religion, but you became akin to a sub-class citizen in their Muslim-dominant society!

I just saw and listened to James Carville on CNN with Wolf Blitzer and thought to myself that the lengths that some of these Obama supporters go to in denouncing anyone who disagrees with Obama is literally coming to a criminal level.

They are making Saul Alinsky not just the voice of the new progressive politics by serving the need and captivity of power for power's sake and not for any other reason, but they have turned Saul Alinsky's rhetoric and beliefs into a Pagan God that they have sold their souls for power for power's sake.

I am disgusted that so many American are so ignorant of Alinsky and what is REALLY happening in America today.

Obama.. in a time where America would be held in high esteem could be charged with and prosecuted with treason.. and his supporters would all be assessories to his crimes.

But, for whatever reason.. America is now ready to stop being "American", or to give being an American a whole new meaning of being the garbage pail of the world and the lift that Obama needs to be the greatest man in history... the Ruler of the Globe with the Terrorist Muslims, Chavez and any other American hater and socialism monster.

TO the President if his 'team' read these: Venting: He made a superb speech that rang of truth, and he is good at that...ringing the sound of truth. May he visit some of his tenets expressed in the speech upon us: 'rule of law; 'equal administration of justice', 'government transparency' and one 'that doesn't steal from the people' !!! Wow. This last one is the greatest gift a nation of working people can get.. GIFT??? No, it's the 'Rule of Law.' It's a 'transparent Government.'

Thank you for reminding us you are a Christian because we thought you had converted to something else after Inauguration Day. We heard you speak to the Holocaust Remembrance Day attendees on April 23rd, and you seemed to have forgotten that Christians have a basic tenet without which they would not be Christians. You said, "everyone knows a SAVIOR and a murderer are NOT BORN" ( Luke 2: - ) We waited to hear a retraction and correction via the Media but heard nothing. We wondered if any Christians cable talking head remembered why we celebrate Christmas and Easter, other than for the merchants' fun. We heard nothing form them or you. So are you and have you always been a member of the Christian belief ? We have, but not necessarily as observant as we ought ot have been

.Still, it was a Good Speech, Pearls from your gifted mouth, but how about moving your feet to that tune here in the US among all of us.

As for those wondrous essentials for a nation, including 'Rule of Law.' & a 'transparent Government.' ? We apparently have neither and will not have either because we have federal, state, county and local political ,crony, contractor corruption that is worse than any of the emerging nations because we have -had- so much more for them to steal and they have stolen and they will continue to steal.

But the US Attorney will not waste his valuable time on giving us back the trillions stolen from the core of the US, - the middle class folk whose average earnings are about 1/3rd that of the White House's Number One Welfare Recipients of US taxpayers' collective Billions : THE UAW ( more unions to help kill the Golden Geese are waiting in the wings of the blue, red, and state dining rooms).

The US Attorney will not charge RICO crimes, Anti-trust crimes, Conspiracy to rig bids and prices and all the other crimes committed; they will not confiscate,prosecute, imprison and force disgorging by each and every person involved in the rape of the millenium by drug companies, insurance companies, agro-businesses paid not to farm , banks, GMAC, Hank Paulson, KRB, Halliburton, local and state officials . Never the UAW, Teachers' Unions,.

Instead the US Attorney and that King of Homeland Security,Napolitano focus entirely on Guantanamo( not a good thing but not the prime reason for having the US attorney focus on 'Torture' and its betrayal of the US Constitution; on releasing classified data ;

and their most DEVOTED FOCUS ON destroying our Sovereign borders to visit on us still more financial drains and criminals who strain our security and destroy our children's futures in the false name of symbolically giving Texas back to the Mexicans- who stole it from the Incans and Aztecs and who - in 500 years never managed to grow an ecomony from a vast country that has the same topography and geography and oil and farmland and groves, and gold as the Norte Americanos. What does that tell any reasonable thinking realist who is not afraid of falsely being labeled a 'racist?"

I dont know what the big deal is, Obama was preaching to the choir, the 90% of muslims that are peaceful, I really dont think al Queda got the message besides Bush has been over in Muslim nations saying the exact same speech 1st, Bush has given speeches praising the Islamic nations for their peaceful religion and all they contribute in this world several times thru his presidency, 2nd torture is illegal and america has not tortured anyone so if you reffering to waterboarding then you must know that Bush used waterboarding till 2004 which was until he got enough information to keep us safe thru the duration of his presidency! It has not been used since then So I have no clue why Obama is over in Cairo saying we wont torture the detainees in Gitmo. We have never tortured detainees because its illegal but we did waterboard only until we recieved the crucial information we needed so Obama is not doing anything different then Bush excedt spending more then Bush and all the other other 43 Presidents combined. YOu ask me Obama is a copycat of Bush but the media wont let you in on it, its their dirty little secret !!